Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM

Commissioner

NSW Rural Fire Service

Shane Fitzsimmons has 30 years’ experience with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) serving as both a volunteer and salaried officer. In 1998, he was appointed an assistant commissioner with the RFS and has held portfolio responsibilities for operations, strategic development and regional management.

In 2004, he was appointed the inaugural Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) Visiting Fellow to the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM) for a period of 12 months. In September 2007, he was appointed commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service. He was appointed a director of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) in March 2008 and was the chair of the NAFC board from 2009 to 2013. He is also a member of the NSW State Rescue Board and was appointed chairman in 2008. In December 2009, he was appointed a director on the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre. He was appointed a board member of the NSW Government Telecommunications Authority in July 2012.

Shane was awarded the National Medal in 1999 and the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in 2001.